My youngest son, Caeleb, and I recently visited the Ted R. Montoya Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) for his yearly checkup. This appointment was his first to the treatment center since turning the magic age of 18. Before leaving the house, we discussed what he should expect as a newly…

My youngest son, Caeleb, and I made the 500-mile journey from our home in New Mexico to Alpine, Texas, last weekend to see my oldest son, Julian, in his professional theater debut. We drove there on Friday evening and returned on Saturday; on Sunday morning, I had to summon…

Repetitive movements, fitness level, and prolonged and competitive physical activity are among the factors that raise bleeding risks for people with hemophilia taking part in such activities, a study based on a survey of physical therapists in the U.S. reports. Duration of training and safety equipment were seen as modifiable factors,…

I walked into the bleeding disorders conference filled with anticipation. After living abroad for over a decade, I had returned to the U.S. and was excited to connect with experts and patients to learn more about managing hemophilia as a woman. As I entered the event, I was mesmerized…

The first documented case of a previously untreated hemophilia B patient developing inhibitors against the extended half-life therapy Alprolix was described in a report from Canada. The report also shows how combining routine administration of Alprolix with medications that suppress the immune system can be used to stop…

Acupuncture was found to be more effective for reducing chronic joint pain in hemophilia patients than transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, the results from a small clinical trial show. “Any treatment that can decrease chronic pain should be considered and acupuncture may have something to offer,”…

Saying no has always been a challenge for me. I tend to overcommit, take on too many tasks, and then feel resentful toward the people or activities I didn’t want to engage with in the first place. For instance, I’m now on my condo board because I couldn’t say no…

At this time of the year, I like to clean. Not just dusting and mopping, but also purging my home of unnecessary items. Unworn clothes, worn-out shoes, and overwhelming stacks of papers and magazines. The other important area that needs a thorough inventory is my home medical supply…

When it comes to home maintenance and improvement, there are several types of people. Some look the other way when their home needs upgrades due to a lack of time, money, energy, or interest. Others coordinate with repair people who come in and do the necessary work. Do-it-yourself people look…

When you live with a bleeding disorder, there are many things that are out of your control. When the next bleed will happen, how long a hospital stay will last, what the results of the blood work will tell you, and how much you will pay per unit…